Tension gripped the University of Benin's Ekheuan Campus on Saturday as hundreds of students took to the streets in protest, barricading the main gate and disrupting normal activities over what they described as unbearable living conditions caused by a three-day power outage and complete water shortage.
The demonstration, which began early Saturday morning, saw agitated students carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs as they expressed frustration over the university management's alleged failure to provide basic amenities despite regular payment of tuition and other mandatory fees.
Speaking to our correspondent at the scene, a visibly frustrated student identified as Prosper voiced the collective grievances of his colleagues. "Despite paying our school and other fees, the management has failed to provide basic amenities. We have been without electricity for three days now, and there is no water supply. How are we expected to study and live in these conditions?" he lamented.
The lack of electricity has reportedly affected students' ability to charge their devices, study at night, and preserve perishable food items. The water shortage has compounded their difficulties, forcing many to trek long distances to fetch water from neighboring communities or purchase from vendors at exorbitant prices.
Several students interviewed expressed concern that the situation was affecting their academic performance, particularly those preparing for upcoming examinations. Some female students also raised concerns about hygiene and sanitation issues arising from the water scarcity.
As the protest intensified, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adesina Ayinde, arrived at the scene to address the aggrieved students. In his remarks, he acknowledged the challenges faced by the students and gave assurances that the university administration was working to resolve the issues.
Professor Ayinde promised that water supply would be restored immediately and that the electricity problems were being addressed in collaboration with relevant authorities. He appealed to the students to exercise patience and allow the management time to implement lasting solutions.
However, the students remained unmoved by the assurances, insisting that they had heard similar promises in the past without tangible results. Many vowed to continue the blockade until concrete action was taken and normalcy restored to the campus.
One student leader, who preferred anonymity, told ReportNaija that the protest was a last resort after several failed attempts to engage the management through official channels. "We are not here to cause trouble. We simply want the management to fulfill their obligations to us. We pay our fees religiously, and we deserve to enjoy basic amenities that will enable us to focus on our studies," the source stated.
The blockade caused significant disruption to activities on campus, with vehicular movement restricted and some staff members unable to access their offices. Security personnel were deployed to maintain order and prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
Parents and guardians who spoke with our correspondent expressed worry about the welfare of their children and wards, calling on the university authorities to prioritize the students' well-being and expedite action on the issues raised.
This latest protest adds to a growing list of grievances by Nigerian students across various institutions who have been demanding better infrastructure and improved learning environments. Education stakeholders have repeatedly called on university managements and government agencies to invest adequately in campus facilities to prevent disruptions to academic calendars.
As of the time of filing this report, the students remained at the gate, awaiting concrete steps from the management before calling off their action. The university administration has yet to issue an official statement on the timeline for resolving the power and water supply challenges.